About I-CAR - Current Events/News: E-newsletter: 2008 E-newsletter Archives: April 7, 2008

Register now and join professionals from around the world as the collision industry gathers for the I-CAR International Annual Meeting, July 24 – 26 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Exciting details of this year's event include:

Industry segment specific and I-CAR volunteer/program instructor sessions
OEM Technical Sessions (Tech Clinics)
7th Annual I-CAR Education Foundation Golf Tournament
Welcome Reception
I-CAR Cruisin’ Night

Visit www.i-car.com/annualmeeting and register now to get the “Early Bird” discount.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

Early bird registration fees through June 1:
General Attendee - $445 US/CDN
General Attendee Spouse/Guest - $385 US/CDN
Program Instructor or Volunteer* - $305 US/CDN
Program Instructor/Volunteer Spouse/Guest - $305 US/CDN

Registration fees after June 1:
General Attendee - $510 US/CDN
General Attendee Spouse/Guest - $445 US/CDN
Program Instructor or Volunteer* - $370 US/CDN
Program Instructor/Volunteer Spouse/Guest - $370 US/CDN

*To qualify as an I-CAR Program Instructor or Volunteer, you must be currently employed as an I-CAR Program Instructor or serving as an active volunteer on an I-CAR committee.

Sponsors

Collision industry businesses are pledging their support of safety and training by participating as a sponsor of the upcoming 2008 I-CAR International Annual Meeting. I-CAR would like to thank the current sponsors of the 2008 I-CAR International Annual Meeting (as of April 4.)

Platinum Level

Gold Level

LKQ Corporation
Total Resource Auctions*

Silver Level

Auto Body World*
BMW of North America, LLC
Car Bench North America*
General Motors Corporation
GreenLeaf Auto Recyclers*
Independent Automotive Damage Appraisers (IADA)*
Wurth USA Inc.*

*Denotes first time sponsors of annual meeting.

Car Bench North America (Silver level sponsor) President Bruce R. Pohlig said, “Car Bench is supporting I-CAR because we believe in the I-CAR mission to educate and inform. By contributing our knowledge and resources to this effort, we hope to support I-CAR’s industry-leading educational programs, with the vision of all body shops producing complete, accurate, and safe repairs. As a leading supplier of OEM-approved benches, jigs, and pulling systems, we know that it is only with the proper training and equipment that technicians can successfully repair today’s vehicles. For Car Bench, participating as an event sponsor at the 2008 I-CAR International Annual Meeting signifies our commitment to helping the industry achieve a high level of technical training.”

If your organization or business would like to demonstrate its commitment to safety by supporting the 2008 I-CAR International Annual Meeting, view the available sponsorship levels and contact I-CAR Supervisor of Marketing Communications Brandon Eckenrode.

I-CAR Cruisin’ Night

On Saturday evening at the 2008 I-CAR International Annual Meeting, meeting attendees and the local Scottsdale public will have the opportunity to enjoy a special “Cruisin’ Night” event. I-CAR will be inviting local Arizona car clubs to display their vehicles in the parking lot of the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess for a mini car-show.

The Arizona Street Rod Association has already committed over 20 vehicles for display, and I-CAR is working with other local clubs to make this truly special event.

I-CAR STAFF AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY WORK TOGETHER

I-CAR staff members and the collision industry are working together so that I-CAR can better serve the industry. Starting at the beginning of the year, I-CAR formed Market Segment Teams (MSTs) and is in the process of building Industry Segment Advisory Councils (ISACs) for each of the inter-industry segments. The MSTs (cross-functional teams of I-CAR staff) and the ISACs (experts in the inter-industry) will work in concert with each other. These inter-industry segments include:

Collision Repair Facilities (CRF)
Vehicle Insurance
Vehicle Manufacturing
Tool, Equipment, and Supply Manufacturing and Distribution
Education, Training, and Related Research Activities
Other Related Industry Services

“Tremendous strides have been made by these groups already. They have pulled together and are aligning themselves to what they are hearing in the industry. The next step is to integrate the external perspective so that we can grow in our role as a training organization through enhanced products and services that will meet the needs of the industry today and in the future,” explained Joyce Kasmer, I-CAR Director of Marketing.

Some MST accomplishments include:

CRF MST

Phone survey conducted with students who recently took I-CAR Live program, Steel Unitized Structures Technologies and Repair (SPS07). Information will be used for an upcoming re-launch of the SPS07 and SPS08 training programs.
Analysis of student data to identify market trends as well as opportunities within the market.
Continuous gathering of customer feedback through surveys and the development of new methods to analyze information and identify areas relevant to creating products that meet the needs of the Collision Repair Facility segment.
First ISAC meeting set for first week in May.
Reviewed three potential new products for which market information will be gathered.
Mid-April launch planned for new post-class survey with incentives for survey completion.

Vehicle Insurance MST

Working with Collision Repair Facility MST in developing and launching a survey by which students can provide their feedback on I-CAR programs.
Pilot survey to be launched in April on SPS07 classes specific to the insurance industry.
Utilizing ISAC members to begin identifying the areas that are important to the decision-makers (those who send their employees to I-CAR classes). This will further help identify the needs of the customer and gaps between those needs and what the programs cover.

Vehicle Manufacturing or OEM MST

Developing survey to gain a better understanding of the OEMs’ expectations of I-CAR.
Identifying means of determining how OEM’s help drive student participation in I-CAR classes.
Developing plan to identify opportunities for dealerships/sponsored independents.
Reviewing OEM relationships to determine potential ISAC members.

Education, Training, and Related Research Activities MST

Launching survey to schools in early April to identify the demographic trends in career and technical schools and colleges specific to the collision industry as well as help identify growth opportunities in education segment.
ISAC members will be utilized to identify the internal and external factors that influence the use of curriculum at both the secondary and post-secondary levels.

I-CAR would also like to welcome the following ISAC members:

Craig Griffin, Laney’s Collision - CRF ISAC
Barry Dorn, Dorn’s Body & Paint – CRF ISAC
Paul Blaski, Sterling Autobody Centers – CRF ISAC, Chairman
Brett Bailey, CARSTAR – CRF ISAC
Rose Grenell, ABRA – CRF ISAC
Jim Pickett, Service King – CRF ISAC
Aaron Clark, Collision Solutions – CRF ISAC
Chuck Lee, Gerber Collision & Glass – CRF ISAC

The first CRF ISAC meeting will take place on May 6, at the I-CAR Training Support Center in Hoffman Estates, IL.

I-CAR REEVALUATES OPERATING NEEDS, ANNOUNCES LIMITED WORKFORCE REDUCTION

I-CAR recently announced a limited reduction in its workforce. The staffing reductions involve the I-CAR Tech Centre in Appleton, Wisconsin, and the I-CAR Training Support Center in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and I-CAR field operations.

“As with many businesses during these difficult economic times, I-CAR has had to re-evaluate its operating performance and its strategic position in meeting the training needs of the industry,” said I-CAR Board Chairman John Edelen.

“Through this work, I-CAR has identified changes that must take place to ensure
that I-CAR remains a viable organization and is positioned to be successful in the future.”

“Through the most recent review of the needs of the organization and its staffing levels we have found it necessary to consolidate some roles and activities, reduce resource levels in some areas, and to eliminate some roles. This has resulted in the reduction of the overall staffing needs of the organization, and the release of the employees affected by these decisions. We want to acknowledge the years of service and contributions of these employees.”

Mr. Edelen went on to say, “I-CAR continues to have very respectable levels of revenue; however, I-CAR’s revenue growth has been outpaced by the rate of escalation in our operating expenses. By restoring a balance between revenue development and our operating expenses, we will ensure that there are sufficient reserves, should these adverse economic conditions persist.”

“I-CAR’s employees are its greatest asset, and employee salaries and benefits are its most significant expense. We owe it to the inter-industry to ensure that we have the right level of staffing to meet the needs of our customers – not more, and not less. We must assure that we can continue to work effectively and efficiently while maintaining our position as a leader in providing training to the auto collision inter-industry,” said Mr. Edelen.

I-CAR CHANGES NAME OF I-CAR WORLD HEADQUARTERS

I-CAR Training Support Center

The I-CAR Hoffman Estates, IL location has been renamed the "I-CAR Training Support Center" to better reflect the location's role in the mission of the organization. The use of the former name, "World Headquarters," will be discontinued.

The rationale for the change is to have a name for this location which is descriptive of the role and focus of I-CAR activities, which is the support of industry training. This is another aspect of I-CAR re-engaging with the industry around its mission.

home

Page Last Revised: Monday, April 7, 2008
webmaster@i-car.com